President Lai Slams Taichung Mayor Over Swine Fever, Food Safety

Taichung, Taiwan – President Lai Ching-te launched a sharp critique against Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen during a ruling party meeting in the city, accusing her administration of failing to adequately address African swine fever and food safety concerns. Lai, who also chairs the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), directly challenged Lu's performance, stating it was "hard to imagine" such a critical municipality could be a "breach point" for both issues.

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It is hard to imagine that such an important municipality like Taichung is a breach point for African swine fever and food safety issues.

Lai further contrasted Lu's approval ratings unfavorably with those of Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, suggesting a significant gap in public satisfaction. He also pointed to the stalled progress on a metro line initiated under the previous administration, noting that despite eight years, the project has seen route changes and budget increases without substantial advancement. The president's remarks were delivered without prepared notes, emphasizing a direct confrontation.

Supporters of Lai framed his strong statements as a comprehensive reckoning of Lu's eight years in office. Zhang Yuming, chairman of the Taiwan Youth Generation Association for Common Prosperity, noted that Lai also compared Lu unfavorably to leaders of neighboring counties, including Yunlin, Nantou, and Miaoli, suggesting her overall performance lagged behind them. This political sparring intensifies ahead of future elections, with the DPP aiming to challenge the Kuomintang's (KMT) hold on the mayoral seat.

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Lu Shiow-yen's personal satisfaction rating is far inferior to Chen Chi-mai's. The gap is too large.

The DPP highlighted its significant investments in Taichung over the past decade, citing over NT$300 billion in infrastructure, water management, healthcare, and social welfare projects initiated under administrations from Chen Shui-bian to Tsai Ing-wen. This narrative positions the central government's contributions against perceived local governance failures, setting a combative tone for the upcoming political contests.

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Lu Shiow-yen dares to neglect municipal affairs and scold Lai Ching-te all day. Don't blame Lai Ching-te for specifically coming to your territory to expose your eight-year ledger all at once.